To help improve his conditioning, which besides his jump shot and decision making, was probably the most talked about topic regarding Rodney Stuckey last season.

I'm sure Stuckey is shooting plenty of jumpers.

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But that's my issue with Stuckey in terms of his conditioning. I think this kid is putting in all the necessary time, but I don't think he's working with the right team of people. I think (because I have no way of actually knowing) they have him on a bad regimen. He's working out in Seattle, a hotbed for highschools hoops, but I haven't heard of any pro athlete in any sport trekking to Sea for off season training. I think if Stuckey went to Chi and worked out with Tim Grover, it would make a huge difference in his game.

quite a few people commented last season that Stuckey seemed to not be in the best condition.

It also sounds like CV is really working hard this summer.

It's pretty fascinating about how Kander goes about his job, and the precision and science he brings to it. It's also interesting how last summer, the Piston's players didn't take enough advantage of working with Arnie.

Kander has a very specific list of qualities he’d like to see Villanueva improve on the basketball court, and to that end he’s formulated a painstaking regimen for Villanueva to follow to get there.
“The No. 1 thing, we want him to become a better runner,” Kander said. “I want to see him be able to run the court with more proficiency. We’re going to improve his stride mechanics so there is less resistance in his body when he’s running.
“We’re going to work on his defensive stance, get him stronger in the hips to hold his base. A little quicker on the first step – we’d really like to see him get by people a little faster. He’s a guy that’s got a really explosive jump. He’ll take those last two or three steps and you’ll be like, wow – where did this incredible power come from? So he’s got the potential for power, but I want to see him be able to maintain more of the small things that build up to power. So run the court better, better stance on defense, better first step and a little more athletic on the court.”
More athletic? Is that attainable?
“You can definitely work on it. Reflexes can be modified and changed. They’ve been developed over time and that’s why I say we really try to break things down to reflex science, understand what develops a reflex. It’s a lot of repetitive movement, over and over again. It’s like changing a shot. It’s not a one- or two-day sequence. You’ve got to commit to it. As we go through the phases of conditioning, it takes a long period of time to develop.”
In one drill, Villanueva backpedaled from the baseline to the free-throw line along the lane, then got in his defensive stance and shuffled as quickly as he could around the top of the circle to the other side of the free-throw line, then sprinted to the baseline and repeated the drill, over and again. All of Kander’s drills approximate motions that a player would use in a game, this one emphasizing the transitioning from one type of movement – running or backpedaling – to another, in this case defensive stance and lateral movement. “(Lateral quickness and movement) can be improved, absolutely,” Kander said. “It all comes off of stance, getting stronger in your legs, stronger at your rotation, being able to turn quicker through your trunk. It’s a lot of cross-training. The foot speed of soccer, the rotational speed of boxing, the flexibility of martial arts – the gifts of each one, combining everything to produce the optimal athlete.”

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How come none of you guys ever post about "reflex science" or about how the guys can improve their lateral quickness?

I like the fact that a lot of the key players are back in Detroit working out. I like the commitment. Even if it doesn't amount to any difference next year, it's good to have the right attitude. With commitment comes a sense of ownership.

I like the fact that a lot of the key players are back in Detroit working out. I like the commitment. Even if it doesn't amount to any difference next year, it's good to have the right attitude. With commitment comes a sense of ownership.

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This is one of the good things about them not tanking at the end of the season. The players left for the summer thinking about winning, and not waiting for some savior from kentucky. It will lead to a whole different culture in the summer league when our new rookies play, and then lead to a totally different camp in the fall.

With the sense of ownership and commitment going into next year, I'm ok if we don't end up with cousins next week. (Unless we draft Whiteside, then I'm holding Jordan Dumars hostage)

The keys to this team are the young guys already on the roster. Is there a Paul Pierce on this team - a guy who can raise his game and stay intense? Stuckey, Bynum, Gordon, Daye, JJ, Summers -- maybe CV, but I'm really not sold on him, but am not willing to just give up on him either -- those are the guys who have the capacity to step up an be real players in this league. We need one or two of them to step up and become stars.

The keys to this team are the young guys already on the roster. Is there a Paul Pierce on this team - a guy who can raise his game and stay intense? Stuckey, Bynum, Gordon, Daye, JJ, Summers -- maybe CV, but I'm really not sold on him, but am not willing to just give up on him either -- those are the guys who have the capacity to step up an be real players in this league. We need one or two of them to step up and become stars.

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Gordon, maybe.....and that's a BIG maybe. In the playoffs you need a guy or guys that (a) Draws help defense, allowing them to make plays for others and (b) can make tough shots with a hand in their face.

Gordon can do the latter, and when he gets it going might draw help, but his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired.

The keys to this team are the young guys already on the roster. Is there a Paul Pierce on this team - a guy who can raise his game and stay intense? Stuckey, Bynum, Gordon, Daye, JJ, Summers -- maybe CV, but I'm really not sold on him, but am not willing to just give up on him either -- those are the guys who have the capacity to step up an be real players in this league. We need one or two of them to step up and become stars.